Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Government shutdown: Senate sends Obama military pay bill
Politico ^ | 30SEP13 | AUSTIN WRIGHT

Posted on 09/30/2013 2:56:59 PM PDT by familyop

A House-passed bill to ensure the military gets paid under any government shutdown was approved without dissent in the Senate on Monday — a rare bipartisan agreement as Congress stumbled toward midnight when the fiscal year ends and current appropriations expire.

The measure, now on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk, would also ensure continued pay for civilian employees of the Defense Department and Pentagon contractors whom Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel determines “are providing support to members of the Armed Forces.”

Put forward by House Republicans, the bill is considered good politics for the GOP, since analysts suggest the party could bear the brunt of the blame for any government disruption.

Following the bill’s passage, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took to the Senate floor to offer Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a backhanded compliment, praising the Nevada Democrat for not holding pay for service members “hostage.”

“The soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines who risk their lives for this nation should not have their paychecks held hostage to any government shutdown in Washington,” said Cruz, who has led the charge in urging his fellow conservatives to demand that any bill to fund the government past Monday include provisions delaying Obamacare.

Democrats, meanwhile, said the bill to fund the troops wouldn’t make a government shutdown any more palatable — and insisted they hadn’t given up any leverage by easing some of the potential pain for the military.

“There’s no shortage of pain here,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), another member of the Armed Services Committee, agreed. “It’s important to the country that we show support for the troops,” she said, “but there’s still going to be pain out there.”

“I don’t think it makes it easier for the Republicans to shut down the government over us not agreeing to repeal Obamacare after we had an election last November that decided it,” McCaskill said.

And Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted the bill was no cure-all for the Defense Department. “There will be many aspects of the military, of DoD, that won’t get paid,” she said.

On Friday, Pentagon officials described the potential effects of a shutdown on the military, saying pay for service members could be delayed and many civilian employees would be furloughed, potentially losing out on their pay entirely.


TOPICS: Front Page News; US: Maryland; US: Michigan; US: Missouri; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: abortion; barbaramikulski; carllevin; ceiling; clairemccaskill; deathpanels; debt; maryland; michigan; military; missouri; obamacare; pay; texas; zerocare
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last
To correct the earlier post to Front Page News here, "Senate won't Pass Military Pay Protection Act." There's also

Senate clears bill to pay military in case of shutdown http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/senate-clears-bill-to-pay-military-in-case-of-shutdown/2013/09/30/13f40e02-2a0b-11e3-b141-298f46539716_story.html

1 posted on 09/30/2013 2:56:59 PM PDT by familyop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: familyop

>> “There’s no shortage of pain here,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).

Yeah. You, for example.


2 posted on 09/30/2013 2:59:16 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Ha! BHO2 is just the type to veto this bill. I wonder how long it would take for an over-ride vote in Congress?


3 posted on 09/30/2013 3:00:25 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NATURAL BORN CITIZEN: BORN IN THE USA OF USA CITIZEN PARENTS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

If this is correct, it means the dems and traitors in the US Senate are getting the message. Next, they should send the bill abolishing the medical device tax.


4 posted on 09/30/2013 3:02:06 PM PDT by grania
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

The feds should not be able to close national parks...those are public lands, not federal assets.


5 posted on 09/30/2013 3:02:20 PM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop
And why shouldn't our guys in uniform get paid? Taxes are still being paid.

What does the government do with the cash? Pile it up until everything starts back up?

6 posted on 09/30/2013 3:02:51 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop; blueyon; KitJ; T Minus Four; xzins; CMS; The Sailor; ab01; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; ...

Active Duty/Retiree ping.

Update.


7 posted on 09/30/2013 3:03:54 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop
To correct the earlier post to Front Page News here, "Senate won't Pass Military Pay Protection Act."

There's also
Senate clears bill to pay military in case of shutdown (Washington Post).

[Little reformat of my first comment there.]
8 posted on 09/30/2013 3:03:54 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop
Cool. Now send one out so old people get their checks.

Then send one to fund ________ and then __________ and then ___________, etc.

9 posted on 09/30/2013 3:05:32 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith (Rome didn't fall in a day, either.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

If BHO signs this, Boehner should put the House in Recess for a few weeks... Let’s see if anyone notices that the govt is shut down.


10 posted on 09/30/2013 3:05:33 PM PDT by CarmichaelPatriot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: familyop

“I don’t think it makes it easier for the Republicans to shut down the government over us not agreeing to repeal Obamacare after we had an election last November that decided it,” McCaskill said.

What the heck? Election decided Obamacare?
What universe are these critters living in?


11 posted on 09/30/2013 3:06:21 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: grania

Exactly, stop trying to lump it all together...piece meal it ...


12 posted on 09/30/2013 3:07:43 PM PDT by EBH ( Freeman: A person not in slavery or serfdom.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll
"Ha! BHO2 is just the type to veto this bill. I wonder how long it would take for an over-ride vote in Congress?"

That would be funny. It passed unanimously in both houses, though, so the military and its contractors will be paid.


13 posted on 09/30/2013 3:08:27 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

Game over. The Dems have lost any leverage they might have had.

Let the next round begin!


14 posted on 09/30/2013 3:11:33 PM PDT by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: CarmichaelPatriot

If the financial guy on the radio last night was correct, it will take about 2 weeks before we see or feel anything.


15 posted on 09/30/2013 3:11:49 PM PDT by EBH ( Freeman: A person not in slavery or serfdom.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CarmichaelPatriot
Yep. Recess the House until the Fast & Furious scandal, IRS scandal, DOJ spying on Fox News scandal, Benghazi cover-up are all resolved and accountability realized with criminal prosecutions and ERIC HOLDER LOSING HIS JOB.

Or maybe keep the gov't shut down until every single tax-exempt status application submitted by Tea Party groups is APPROVED by the IRS.

16 posted on 09/30/2013 3:11:53 PM PDT by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America (If Americans were as concerned for their country as Egyptians are, Obama would be ousted!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

And civil service employees. They’ll be paid, too, as per the article.


17 posted on 09/30/2013 3:14:51 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: familyop

We need citizen journalists to use their webcams to record what RAT senators and administration fat cats are doing during this time. Will the White House shut down media access to the White House?


18 posted on 09/30/2013 3:17:32 PM PDT by petitfour
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

CNN just mentioned the possible “historic government shutdown” tonight suggesting it was novel, unique. Another channel reminds that this has happened 17 times since 1976.


19 posted on 09/30/2013 3:20:25 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: familyop

Wonder if I’ll get my S.S. check tomorrow. Obama probably personally stopped mine and every S.S. recipient on this forum.


20 posted on 09/30/2013 3:22:32 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (_.. ._. .. _. _._ __ ___ ._. . ___ ..._ ._ ._.. _ .. _. .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-40 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson